Today, the Senate is expected to start floor debate and motion for a vote on either the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), which would repeal and immediately replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act (ORRA), which would repeal portions of the ACA after a two-year delay. The Senate is working to pass whichever bill is more likely to attain 50 votes. 

The Congressional Budget Office released reports last week that said 22 million people would lose health care over the next 10 years under the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), and that repealing ACA without a replacement would leave 32 million without insurance.

Regardless of which option moves to a vote today, the fate of our health care will be decided this week. 

At this time — hours before the vote is slated to begin, no one, not even Members of the Senate — know what the Senate will vote on. 

We need to be active TODAY.

Call. Call. Call.

Call today. 202-224-3121. The switchboard operator will connect you with each office you request

Your phone script: Please tell Senator __________ to vote NO on any healthcare bill considered by the Senate today. (Provide information about your personal story)

Summary of both bills:

Impact of the Better Care Reconciliation Act

Background: 

On July 13, the Senate introduced a revised version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA), their version of legislation to repeal and replace the ACA. The bill did not address any of the concerns of the patient advocacy community. Instead, it introduces new provisions that will make it harder and more expensive for people with complex diseases and disabilities to access meaningful health insurance.

Message on BCRA: 

The Senate must vote “no” on the Better Care Reconciliation Act. It will lead to unaffordable insurance for people with complex conditions such as Duchenne and lead to coverage that will be inadequate to meet their health care needs. Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to stabilize the market and create long-term solutions for the health care system.

How BCRA Will Impact Those with Duchenne and Complex Conditions:

What new provisions are in the revised bill?

• The BCRA now allows insurers to sell plans in all 50 states that are not compliant with any of the patient protections of the ACA, provided they also offer ACA-compliant plans.

• The patient protections that would not be required of these non-compliant plans include:

• The impact of this amendment will be the creation of two separate insurance markets – one for healthy individuals with bare-bones coverage, and one for people with disabilities and complex conditions, such as those with Duchenne.

• States can choose to opt out of the essential health benefits requirements. 
• This will lead to insurance that does not cover as many products and services that people with complex conditions need.  
• It also means that fewer products and services will apply to the ban on lifetime and annual benefits limits and the maximum out-of-pocket cost limit.
• By Congress reducing hundreds of billions of dollars in Medicaid payments to the states, states could cut enrollment, limit benefits, or reduce payment rates to providers and plans.

Impact of Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act

On July 19, the Senate released a new plan to repeal the ACA, called the Obamacare Repeal and Reconciliation Act (ORRA). ORRA would repeal the provisions of the ACA that can be modified through Senate budget rules, notably Medicaid expansion, premium and cost-sharing subsidies, and requirements that individuals purchase insurance and employers offer insurance. The bill would leave many insurance requirements, such as those for pre-existing conditions, in place. These changes would not occur for two years.

Message on ORRA:

The Senate must vote “no” on the Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act. It will greatly increase premiums, leave people with no insurance options, and result in 32 million people losing access to health care. Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to stabilize the market and create long- term solutions for the health care system.

• The bill will create havoc in the insurance market and lead to unaffordable and/or unattainable insurance.

If Senators don’t know what they’re voting on, how will they know how it will impact their state? Breaking a decades-long precedent, we likely will not see a non-partisan score from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on whatever it is the Senate will vote on. 

Today is the day that we, as a community, must protect our loved ones. Today is the day to pick up your phone and use your voice to demand our leaders in Washington listen.